A White House statement asserted that President Donald Trump has decided to pull the United States out of the U.N. cultural, scientific, and educational agency UNESCO, as the organisation doesn’t align with the U.S. policy and is against America’s national interest.
The White House declaration claims that the nation has decided to walk out of UNESCO, as the Paris-based cultural and educational body indulges in anti-Israel speech which is contrary to the US’s national interest and foreign policy priorities. “UNESCO’s decision to admit the state of Palestine as a member of the organisation is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy and it leads to proliferation of anti-Israeli rhetoric within the organisation”, says Tammy Bruce, spokesperson of the U.S. State Department. She also accused UNESCO for perceiving an agenda to advance “woke, divisive social and cultural causes”.
The announcement made by the White House is in tandem with Trump’s ‘America First’ policy and his decision to quit other multilateral forums such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Health Organisation (WHO), etc. He has even expressed apprehension about NATO and on many occasions, has threatened to exit it, despite being the largest contributor and key decision-maker.
This is the third time the U.S. is exiting UNESCO, just two years after President Biden rejoined the grouping in 2023. UNESCO was one of the organisations that Trump withdrew from in 2018, citing the same reason of UNESCO being anti-Israel. During his maiden term as the President of the United States, Trump had also walked out of the Paris Climate Accords, the UN Human Rights Council and other global organisations. It seems that Trump will revert to all these decisions that he took during his first term.
UNESCO opposes U.S. statement
UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay said that she regrets the U.S. decision. However, she refuted the accusations made by the U.S. and said, “These claims contradict to the reality of UNESCO’s effort, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and fight against anti-Semitism”. However, the global agency said that the U.S. decision was expected and the agency is prepared for it. UNESCO currently is not predominantly dependent on the U.S. for its funds and has highly diversified its funding sources. Receiving about only 8 percent of its budget from Washington, the U.S. withdrawal thus will have only a limited impact on UNESCO,” Azoulay added.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron uttered his ‘unwavering’ support for the protection of world culture and heritage and claimed that U.S. withdrawal would not weaken France’s commitment to UNESCO. Elsewhere, Israel thanked Washington for its “moral support and leadership” and accused UNESCO of “consistent misguided anti-Israeli bias.”
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